NEWS

James M. Cox Foundation pledges $100,000 to School of Journalism and Mass Communication

CHAPEL HILL -- The James M. Cox Foundation of Atlanta will give $100,000 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication to renovate Carroll Hall, which will house the school beginning in 1999.

The contribution will establish the Cox Lecture Room for courses such as journalism-mass communication law, ethics and history.

The late James M. Cox founded Cox Enterprises Inc., a major media company, in 1898 with the acquisition of a single newspaper in Dayton, Ohio. During the past 16 months, Cox Newspapers Inc., a subsidiary, has acquired three daily and 11 weekly newspapers in North Carolina. WSOC-TV in Charlotte has been a Cox broadcasting business since 1959.

“With its recent newspaper purchases, Cox has expanded in North Carolina in a big way,” said Dr. Richard Cole, dean of the school. “We look forward to building our relationship with this outstanding communication company.”

Said Jay Smith, president of Cox Newspapers, “This is an excellent school, and we're delighted to link the Cox name with it. We look forward to working with its students, faculty members and alumni, many of whom already do excellent work for Cox newspapers and other Cox businesses across the United States.”

Cox Newspapers entered North Carolina in January 1996 by acquiring The Daily Reflector in Greenville and nine weekly newspapers from the Whichard family. Jordy Whichard, publisher of the Reflector, is a member of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication Foundation. Whichard's father, Dave, and uncle, Jack, are graduates of the school.

Late in 1996, Cox Newspapers acquired two more daily newspapers in North Carolina, The Rocky Mount Telegram and The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City, and two weeklies.

Based in Atlanta, Cox Enterprises Inc. includes Cox Newspapers Inc., Cox Broadcasting Inc. and publicly traded Cox Communications Inc. Through Cox Interactive Media, the company is a pioneer in online news and information and entertainment services. Through Manheim Auctions Inc., the company is the world's largest operator of automobile auctions.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication, which just completed a successful bicentennial campaign, has raised more than half of the $4 million needed to renovate Carroll Hall.

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Contact: Karen Stinneford